Contextual Factors and Participation in Employment for People with Serious Mental Illness

Abstract

Consumers with serious mental illness face many barriers to employment. The goal of the focus group study summarized in this article was to better understand the perspectives of those who most directly interface with employment services, namely consumers and providers. Fortyfour consumers and 32 providers participated in focus groups across Massachusetts. The guiding questions posed to participants were What are the barriers? and What are the facilitators? Participants identified a range of factors, including those related to psychiatric conditions. However, contextual factors, particularly those related to the service system, the Social Security system, and stigma, were considered to be the most daunting barriers. Solutions to barriers at both the practice and the policy level are suggested.